Spring structure



W. R; SMITH. SPRING STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1922.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

1,425,345. Patented Aug. 8, 19 22.

Application filed. January is, 1922. Serial my. 530,044.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that L'WATSON PLSMITH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented new and use-.

ful Improvements in Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring structures.

Spring structures for automobile seats are generally built by manufacturers and sold without upholstering material applied to the structure. The purchaser of the spring structure applies an upholstered covering thereto, or has it done by an upholsterer.

It is therefore one object of my invention to provide a spring structure to which the upholstering material may be readily applied by an upholsterer or manufacturer of automobiles or the like.

Another object resides in the provision of a spring structure embodying among other characteristics a simple and inexpensive base frame to which the supporting bars which support the body springs may be attached in any suitable manner, and to which the marginal edge of the skirt or upholstered covering may be readily secured in position against undue wear or tearing and against accidental detachment incident to the rebound of the body springs subsequent to compression due to the weight of the rider, or because of uneven roadways.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as here inafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the invention with the marginal edge of the skirt in the groove ready to be secured therein.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, illustrating the skirt secured in the groove of the base frame.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the base frame.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base frame and spring supporting bars. I

Fig. 5 is adetail perspective View of a portion of a modified form of base frame.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference letter A indicates generally, a base frame, composed of sheet metal including spaced substantially vertical walls 6 and 7 and a web 8 connecting the upper longitudinal edges of the vertical walls.

The inner wall 7 has its lower edge directed inwardly and upwardly to provide a flange 9 forming an upwardly opening groove 10 in which the downwardly turned ends 11 of the spring supporting bars 12 are secured by pressing the upturned flange 9 toward the inner vertical wall 7 onto the dowygiturned ends of said bars, as indicated at The outer wall 6 has its lower edge directed outwardly and upwardly, providing a flange 14, resulting in an outer groove 15 which opens upwardly, for a purpose presently explained.

Springs 16 are mounted on the supporting bars 12, having their base coils clamped or pinched between the flanges of adjacent bars as shown at 17.

An upholstery covering 18 including a depending skirt 19 is mounted on the structure and the marginal edge of the skirt may have a cord, rope, wire, wood, a fibre strip or other character of spline .wrapped or sewed therein.

The marginal edge of the skirt 19 is dis posed in the aforesaid outer upwardly opening groove 15, and the flange l lfis then bent toward the outer vertical wall 6, without deflecting said vertical wall 6, to bind the marginal edge of the skirt in said groove 15 to hold the skirt from accidental disconnection from the base frame.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modified form of the invention, the only difference between this. and the other form described, however, being that in the modified form, the inner groove 21 opens upwardly under the connecting web 8' and the ends of the spring supporting bars 12' are curled upwardly and inwardly andhook into the said inner groove 21; otherwise, the two structures are the same.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spring structure, a base frame including spaced inner and outer substantially vertical parallel walls having a connecting web between them, the walls being of substantially the same Width and arranged in horizontal alinement, each Wall at its lower edge having a flangecooperating with the respective Wall to form a groove, said grooves being arranged in horizontal aline- Inent, spring supporting bars having their ends provided vvith'hooks engaging in the groove adjacent the inner Wall, springs mounted on said bars and an upholstering covering for the structure, including a skirt having its marginal edge disposed in the groove adjacent the outer Wall, the flange adjacent the outer Wall being bendablein- Wardly toward the outer Wall on to. the skirt to secure the inarginaledge of the latter to the base frame.

2. A base frame for spring structures composed of a continuous piece of sheet nietal bent to form an inverted U-shaped WATSON E. SMITH. 

